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Redskins players elect London Fletcher to be union representative

Redskins players recently selected inside linebacker London Fletcher as their representative to the NFL Players Association.

Fletcher was among many players who expressed disappointment last week after Commissioner Roger Goodell's visit to Ashburn. Goodell, players say, seemed evasive in response to questions about the negotiations between owners and the players' union on a new collective bargaining agreement.

Goodell encouraged players to ask questions but offered little insight about the process. Fletcher is very concerned about where things could be headed for football fans.

"What we need to do, owners and players, is to come together and understand that the game is too important to the fans to have a work stoppage. A lockout," said Fletcher, who is entering his13th season in the league. "It's just too important to fans. It's too important to stadium workers, restaurant owners -- people whose everyday lives are impacted and affected by us and football not being played.

"That's the message that the league needs to have. That's the message that the players need to have. That's the message that everyone needs to understand."

Fletcher is in his first season as a player rep. After former rep James Thrash retired, the team elected Fletcher to the position.

"The position that you have as a player rep, you have to give your teammates a whole lot of information about everything that's going on within the union and the CBA negotiations," Fletcher said. "You have to talk about it and tell your players about the possibilities. Me, I'm an optimist.

"I'm always thinking that it's not going to happen. We can't allow this to happen on either side. But I also need to tell me teammates, let my teammates know, that they also need to prepare for the worst-case scenario. You have to make sure that if there is no football played that you have put yourselves in a good financial situation or position to where you can withstand it if there are games being missed."

"We're getting ready to ice the game," Joe Theismann remembered that day against Dallas at RFK Stadium, Jan. 22, 1983. "We're linin' up. And Russ and Randy White [the Cowboys' Hall of Fame defensive tackle] had been at it all day. I mean this is a war. This is a physical, UFC, battle royal.

"So all of a sudden I get in the huddle and I call '60 Outside.' And Russ looks at me and he says, 'No.' "
Which made Theismann do a double-take.
"I said, 'What do you mean no? Joe [Gibbs] wants to run 60 Outside.'
"He says, 'I want to run '50 Gut' right at Randy.'
"Well now I gotta make an executive decision, you know, I'm middle management."

They ran the play Grimm, not Gibbs, wanted. White was run over and the Redskins gained four yards. Theismann looked back toward Joe Gibbs, two weeks before he guided the franchise to their first of three Super Bowls. The coach wanted his play run.

"Next play, I don't even look at the sidelines anymore," Theismann said. "We ran like 11 consecutive 50 Guts. It was just Russ Grimm against Randy White and we were going to absolutely pummel him to the ground. When I think of Russ Grimm and all the memories, this was his moment."
"I always felt the huddle wasn't a democracy," Theismann added, "until that particular time."

Former Redskins tackle George Starke reminisced by telephone Thursday night as he awaited his storm-delayed flight from Washington to Canton. "Nine of those times we ran it right up Randy's [behind]," he said.

Before every play, Starke recalled, ornery center Jeff Bostic looked at White across the line. "He said, 'Randy, you better dig in, we're coming again right at you,' " Starke said of Bostic. "He had a nasty . . . attitude. I loved Jeff.

"Then after every play, Mark May would kick Randy White in the butt because he didn't like him," Starke recalled. "Randy would punch Russ, who would get angry. Then we'd do it all over again."

Redskins notes and analysis 8/8/10
By: John Keim
Examiner Staff Writer
08/08/10 1:11 PM EDT
1. Watched Albert Haynesworth hit the blocking sled Saturday. One reason he’s so effective is that he uses his entire body when exploding into the sled. Not all players do. He has a lot more natural strength than most, but it helps that his lower body is so involved.

2. Anthony Bryant, meanwhile, didn’t seem to be consistent with his hands and lunged too much when hitting the sled. Didn’t seem to use his whole body, at least not like Haynesworth or even Phillip Daniels.

3. The Redskins say Haynesworth is the No. 2 nose, but I can’t imagine he’ll play that spot all the time. On first and second down it makes sense to have Maake Kemoeatu as the nose and Haynesworth at right end (with Adam Carriker or Daniels on the other side). Kemoeatu will not get in the backfield, but he can anchor the middle.

4. Because I grew up in Cleveland – save the remarks – and my family still lives there, I pay attention to the Browns. They have a talented nose guard in Shaun Rogers; he could make plays in the backfield and, when motivated, is a Pro Bowl player. However, when he was hurt last year the Browns’ run defense actually improved. Why? Because the guy who replaced him, Ahtyba Rubin, simply tried to hold his ground and occupy blockers rather than make plays. With Rogers, teams would allow him to shoot a gap, create a big opening and then hit the other gap.

5. Doesn’t mean that will happen in Washington with Haynesworth. But, heck, you saw teams adopt that strategy with him on the field last year. That’s why the Redskins will move him around so much; keep the offense from doing that all the time. And my guess is the Redskins will provide so many looks with their linebackers that if offenses are so focused on Haynesworth, then they’ll lose sight of where the real pressure is coming from

6. The D-line, by the way, also do a drill in which they chop over bags on the ground, then sprint a couple steps from behind a ballcarrier and punch the ball away.

7. Jeremy Jarmon was too high even while chopping his feet in this drill. It was an issue with him Saturday. D-line coach Jacob Burney let him know, too.

8. Trent Williams is doing a terrific job, but like other rookies he has a tendency to tip off where he’s going to block. He admits it and knows he has to correct it; guessing it’s hard not to look a certain way when you know you’re facing Brian Orakpo.

9. Artis Hicks talked the other day about having long arms for a guard. It can be an issue when you’re facing defenders who get into your body quicker. At tackle, long arms are terrific; at guard, it can be a little bit of an obstacle.

10. Poor Lendy Holmes. Had terrific coverage and made a good read on a pass to Shay Hodge at the goal-line Saturday. He broke in front of Hodge, went to intercept the ball – and watched it bounce off his fingertips and into Hodge’s arms for a touchdown.

11. Is it time to be worried about Donovan McNabb? Doubt it, though one Eagles insider said he typically looked better in camp with Philadelphia. The thing to keep in mind, though – as anyone who has watched him knows; and has been pointed out to me by the insider and even an Eagle fan via email -- is that McNabb’s best trait is keeping plays alive after they break down. In practices, there is less improvisation; in games, there will be plenty

What is up with the blog today? Everybody dogged on Colt Brennan and now he's in Oakland. We'll be sorry when Donovan goes down with an injury.

Posted by: shanahanman | August 8, 2010 2:45 PM | Report abuse

Here is John Keim's thoughts on Colt:

Good for Colt Brennan for getting picked up by Oakland. Always liked him, though always thought his opinion of his game did not always match reality. Worse ways to be, I suppose. Great to be confident, but I didn't always think he realized exactly how far he had to go to become a quality backup. But he was a pleasure to talk to; loved his insight and he broke down plays as well as anyone. In his future, he'll be a terrific analyst.

I read that in the paper this morning, and got a little choked up...seriously...

I wonder if the game will ever be like that again - when you have a whole team of guys who truly care wholeheartedly about demoralizing the guys lining up across from you because it is your city's rival...

-I'm digging Shay Hodge and Brandon Banks. Hodge beat his man fairly consistently in one-on-one routes and had some nice grabs; Banks is as quick and shifty as advertised and seemed to handle both punts and passes pretty well. Would love to see him seize the PR/KR role and maybe develop into a nice slot option in years to come.

-CBs did not look too good aside from Hall. Pains me to knock a Terp but Kevin Barnes did not look sharp in coverage drills, Rogers got burnt with regularity, and Tryon was OK at best. Didn't get much of a look at Buchanon but hope he steps up.

-Fred Davis was all over the place. I'm really expecting big things from him this year- K. Shanahan should be able to exploit mismatches with him and Cooley, I see 60 catches/750 yards and 6-8 TDs as very attainable.